Gate latch



April 22 1952 l.. E. HELDENBRAND 2,593,560

GATE LATCH Filed May 11, 1951 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITEDASTATES PATENT ortica Laurance E. Heldenbrand, Oklahoma City, Okla. Application May 11, 1951,' Serial No. 225,809 v This invention relates to a gate latch, the primary object of the invention being to provide a gate latch which will automatically grip the free edge of a swinging gate to hold the gate in its closed position under normal and strenuous conditions.

An important object of the invention is to provide a latch of this character which may be pressed inwardly to release the gate, the latch automatically moving to its normal position to 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-299) receive the free end of a gate moving thereinto, 'v

the latch acting to hold the gate closed automatically under normal and strenuous conditions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through a gate latch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the gate latch comprises the rectangular frame 5, the upper and lower members 6 thereof being connected by means of the rods 'I that are spaced from the ends 8 of the frame, as clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing.

These rods 'I provide stops for the latch rings 9 which are substantially wide, as shown by Fig. 2, to provide wide contact surfaces for the gate I which swings thereagainst. Secured to the frame substantially intermediate the ends of the frame, is the supporting bar I I, to which the pin I2 is secured, the pin extending forwardly from the bar II terminating at a point adjacent to the front of the rectangular frame. This pin provides a support 'for the bar I3, that is formed with a central opening I4 through which the pin I2 extends. The spring I5 is coiled around the pin I2 with one end thereof engaging the bar I I, while the opposite end thereof presses against the inner surface of the bar I3, normally urging the bar I3 outwardly against the latch rings 9 that are positioned on the rods 'I in such a way that the latch rings will securely hold the gate closed. When it is desired to release the gate held between the latch rings, pressure against a latch ring will cause the latch ring to move inwardly to a position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1

. 2 of the drawing to release the gate. It is obvious that when the gate has passed the latch ring -against which it -has been moved, the coiled spring I5 will immediately force the bar I3 outwardly against said latch rings 9, moving them to the positions as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 whereupon a gate moving into contact with a latch ring in closing the gate will cause the ring engaged thereby to be moved inwardly until the gate passes to a point substantially intermediate the ends of the frame, whereupon the latch rings will be moved to the position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing, to hold the gate in its closed position under normal and strenuous conditions.` u

It will further be seen that when the gate is moved to its closed position and presses against the latch ring at one side of the latch, the latch ring against which it engages will be pressed inwardly to a position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. This movement causes the other ring of the latch to provide a stop to prevent the gate from being moved through the latch.

The reference character I6 indicates the receiving post of a gate structure and the bolt I1, which is secured to the supporting bar II extends through an opening of the post I6 securing the gate latch in position on the post.

From the foregoing detail disclosure of the in vention, it is believed that a further description of the operation and structure of the gate latch, is unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a gate latch,l a frame including spaced upper and lower members. vertical rods extending through the frame and connected to the upper and lower members adjacent to the ends thereof, latch rings held within the frame between the upper and lower members in spaced relation with each other, portions of said rings normally extending beyond the open front edge of the frame, said rods extending through the rings providing stops limiting outward movement of said latch rings, means for urging the rings outwardly, and said rings adapted to grip the free end of a swinging gate therebetween.

2. In a gate latch, a frame embodying upper and lower members, end members connecting the upper and lower members, said frame having its front open, latch rings held between the upper and lower members, vertical rods extending between the upper and lower members, said rods extending through said latch rings restricting outward movement of the latch rings, said latch rings adapted to engage the end members of the frame restricting movement of the latch rings in one direction, a spring-pressed bar engaging the latch rings within the frame adapted to move the latch rings beyond the open side of the frame, said latch rings adapted to grip the free end of a gate moved therebetween, and said latch rings being movable inwardly independently of each other releasing the gate.

3. In a gate latch, a frame having an open front, vertical rods secured Within the frame adjacent to the open front thereof, horizontally disposed latch rings extending into the open front of the frame and through which said rods extend holding said latch rings against displacement, a pin extending into the frame at a point intermediate the ends of the frame, a bar having a central opening into which the pin extends supporting said bar, said bar engaging the latch rings within the frame, a spring coiled around said pin engaging the bar, urging the bar and latch rings outwardly, said latch rings adapted to grip one end of a gate therebetween normally holding the gate closed.

4. In a gate latch, a frame having an open front, horizontal latch rings mounted within the open front, means for extending said latch rings beyond the open front of the frame in the path of travel of a gate, said latch rings adapted to grip a gate therebetween, one of said latch rings being movable inwardly permitting the gate to move therethrough, the opposite latch ring providing a stop limiting the movement of the gate by contact therewith.

LAURANCE E. HELDENBRAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Y UNI'I'ED STATES PATENTS Number 4 

